Vigilante (40 page)
“Hey!” The shooter retreated.
“Is he gone?” the second man asked anxiously. “He can get access to
other corridors up there.”
other corridors up there.”
“Why don’t
you
check?” snarled the
first.
you
check?” snarled the
first.
More discussion and bullying followed, all of which typified the split
in the crazies. There were only two men below; he’d dropped the third with a stunner before
climbing up the tube. The anxious one was in station maintenance overalls and, by his clothes
and accent, the other appeared to be an outsider. Joyce considered the outsiders to be the true
threat. They were the ones entrusted with dangerous weapons, while their converts from the
station carried stunners. The outsiders were aggressive and often browbeat their
converts.
in the crazies. There were only two men below; he’d dropped the third with a stunner before
climbing up the tube. The anxious one was in station maintenance overalls and, by his clothes
and accent, the other appeared to be an outsider. Joyce considered the outsiders to be the true
threat. They were the ones entrusted with dangerous weapons, while their converts from the
station carried stunners. The outsiders were aggressive and often browbeat their
converts.
“All right, I’ll take a look,” the second man said reluctantly.
There was a pause. Joyce pictured the maintenance worker peeking up,
wondering what could be waiting above. He wasn’t the man Joyce needed to take out.
wondering what could be waiting above. He wasn’t the man Joyce needed to take out.
“Go ahead. He’s probably gone. I’ll cover you.” The crazy was obviously
tense and holding his pistol ready.
tense and holding his pistol ready.
Joyce set the ministunner to low power and zeroed the range. Without
leaning over the tube, he set it against the anchor of the ladder in the tube and pulled the
trigger. At that low setting and without the squirt of ions to carry the charge, the stunner
made no sound. He was, however, using its charge.
leaning over the tube, he set it against the anchor of the ladder in the tube and pulled the
trigger. At that low setting and without the squirt of ions to carry the charge, the stunner
made no sound. He was, however, using its charge.
“Ow! He’s charged the ladder.”
Joyce quickly changed stunner settings.
“What? You’re an idiot—I don’t feel anything.”
Joyce leaned and fired down the shaft. It was difficult firing a stunner
inside a metal tunnel, but he was three meters away and the access tube was wide. The crazy was
exactly where he’d hoped; better yet, the man dropped his pistol as the charge hit him, so no
ammo went flying. For good measure, Joyce hit him with a charge again, this time taking better
aim. He smiled as he heard the running footsteps from the retreating maintenance worker. Now
that
wasn’t a surprise.
inside a metal tunnel, but he was three meters away and the access tube was wide. The crazy was
exactly where he’d hoped; better yet, the man dropped his pistol as the charge hit him, so no
ammo went flying. For good measure, Joyce hit him with a charge again, this time taking better
aim. He smiled as he heard the running footsteps from the retreating maintenance worker. Now
that
wasn’t a surprise.
Climbing down, he surveyed his sudden wealth. The deserter hadn’t taken
the weapons from his fallen comrades. Crumpled against the corridor wall and near the corner,
the other maintenance worker lay next to his shotgun with rubber riot-shot. Joyce grimaced as
he hefted the flechette pistol dropped by the crazy. Pulling the magazine out, he found it
still had five rounds of compressed foil darts.
the weapons from his fallen comrades. Crumpled against the corridor wall and near the corner,
the other maintenance worker lay next to his shotgun with rubber riot-shot. Joyce grimaced as
he hefted the flechette pistol dropped by the crazy. Pulling the magazine out, he found it
still had five rounds of compressed foil darts.
He snorted. He’d carry the shotgun as his primary weapon because he’d
never liked flechette weapons. The only advantage of flechettes, here, was intimidating
unprotected civilians or flouting the Phaistos Protocols, if one wanted to thumb their nose at
the Minoans. He’d used flechette rifles during EVA and boarding assaults, but both his forces
and the opposing Terrans had been equipped in full exoskeleton-supported armor and self-sealing
suits. Flechettes and small-caliber slugs were the only effective ammunition under those
circumstances. He blinked and shook his head to avoid seeing the scenes against his eyelids:
comrades flailing and dying in space. Those memories were burned into his brain.
never liked flechette weapons. The only advantage of flechettes, here, was intimidating
unprotected civilians or flouting the Phaistos Protocols, if one wanted to thumb their nose at
the Minoans. He’d used flechette rifles during EVA and boarding assaults, but both his forces
and the opposing Terrans had been equipped in full exoskeleton-supported armor and self-sealing
suits. Flechettes and small-caliber slugs were the only effective ammunition under those
circumstances. He blinked and shook his head to avoid seeing the scenes against his eyelids:
comrades flailing and dying in space. Those memories were burned into his brain.
He double-checked the safety on the flechette pistol.
These should never be used against unarmored civvies
. He supposed that was why
he was career-AFCAW, so Autonomist citizens could continue their naive lives in peace. He put
the flechette pistol on his belt and the ministunner in his vest pocket.
These should never be used against unarmored civvies
. He supposed that was why
he was career-AFCAW, so Autonomist citizens could continue their naive lives in peace. He put
the flechette pistol on his belt and the ministunner in his vest pocket.
“Fledgling to Mother Bird,” he broadcasted, using the slate hooked to
his coveralls. Even though the comm was encrypted, the crazies had the same Command Post
equipment and could be roaming the channels. Having short and obscure conversations kept the
crazies from triangulating his position or figuring out his intentions.
his coveralls. Even though the comm was encrypted, the crazies had the same Command Post
equipment and could be roaming the channels. Having short and obscure conversations kept the
crazies from triangulating his position or figuring out his intentions.
“Mother Bird here.” Maria’s voice was tiny, piped through his implanted
ear bug for hands-free comm. He’d plugged the slate into the connector at the base of his
neck.
ear bug for hands-free comm. He’d plugged the slate into the connector at the base of his
neck.
“Two more down.” He quick-tied his victims’ hands behind their backs,
courtesy of the pocket contents of one of the crazies.
courtesy of the pocket contents of one of the crazies.
“Found any doves yet?”
“No.” He grunted as he shoved the unconscious bodies into the access
tube. “Got an ETA on Vulture?”
tube. “Got an ETA on Vulture?”
“Approximately forty-five minutes.”
He wanted to ask whether the
Golden Bull
’s
crew had made it through the
Hesperus
and onto Beta Priamos, but
they’d agreed that Maria would manage that operation. They uncoupled the two activities; there
were no coordination points or dependencies. His mission lay in the opposite direction from the
class B docks and was more important than freeing the
Golden Bull
’s
crew. He quickly checked the time on the cuff of his coverall sleeve.
Golden Bull
’s
crew had made it through the
Hesperus
and onto Beta Priamos, but
they’d agreed that Maria would manage that operation. They uncoupled the two activities; there
were no coordination points or dependencies. His mission lay in the opposite direction from the
class B docks and was more important than freeing the
Golden Bull
’s
crew. He quickly checked the time on the cuff of his coverall sleeve.
“Fledgling out.”
“Mother Bird out.”
Another agreed procedure was that he initiated all comm. The exception
that Maria would send, if it happened, was the notification that she was overrun and losing
control of CP.
that Maria would send, if it happened, was the notification that she was overrun and losing
control of CP.
He had three more locations to check in ring four. In unlocking a
storage room, he found three women and two men, all original Beta Priamos maintenance. After
explaining who he was and the situation as briefly as possible, he forestalled any more
questions.
storage room, he found three women and two men, all original Beta Priamos maintenance. After
explaining who he was and the situation as briefly as possible, he forestalled any more
questions.
“I need weapons and I need people willing to wield them,” he said. “I’ve
got an elevator to ambush.”
got an elevator to ambush.”
Missile with serial number 13628, from tube number sixteen, would be the
first missile to reach its target recon point. It reversed its boost with force that would have
jellied a biological organism and switched on its receiver, braking to its recon point in five
seconds . . . three seconds . . . arrival recorded. It began its activity countdown and
searched for a ship like the
Candor Chasma
within its area of
responsibility.
first missile to reach its target recon point. It reversed its boost with force that would have
jellied a biological organism and switched on its receiver, braking to its recon point in five
seconds . . . three seconds . . . arrival recorded. It began its activity countdown and
searched for a ship like the
Candor Chasma
within its area of
responsibility.
“I just wish I knew the real story,” Matt muttered.
His agony had started when the Minoans tracked the
Aether’s Touch
tightly following the Terran ship
Candor
Chasma
toward the inner system. Initially, he’d alternated between blaming Ari for
endangering his ship and hoping that both would be safe. There wasn’t anything he could do but
pace, waiting for the Minoans to get free of the minefield and hoping he could convince them to
follow the ships in-system. He tried to get Warrior Commander to issue a hail, but his request
was flatly denied.
Aether’s Touch
tightly following the Terran ship
Candor
Chasma
toward the inner system. Initially, he’d alternated between blaming Ari for
endangering his ship and hoping that both would be safe. There wasn’t anything he could do but
pace, waiting for the Minoans to get free of the minefield and hoping he could convince them to
follow the ships in-system. He tried to get Warrior Commander to issue a hail, but his request
was flatly denied.
Matt looked at the three-dimensional tracking. He couldn’t read the
linear script the Minoans used as tags, but given the progress on the diagram, he guessed the
ships were pushing the top-boost capability of
Aether’s Touch
. They
were taking an elliptical path that would bring them closer to the sun than advised by his
ship’s engineering specifications.
linear script the Minoans used as tags, but given the progress on the diagram, he guessed the
ships were pushing the top-boost capability of
Aether’s Touch
. They
were taking an elliptical path that would bring them closer to the sun than advised by his
ship’s engineering specifications.
“What the hell is Ari doing?” he whispered to David Ray, pacing in front
of the bench where the counselor sat.
of the bench where the counselor sat.
David Ray shrugged and gave him a sympathetic grimace.
“Your ship appears to make mechanical course updates, as if performing
on autopilot,” Warrior Commander said.
on autopilot,” Warrior Commander said.
Matt stopped in his tracks, struck dumb by a third possibility: Muse 3
might be
operating
his ship, because Ari wouldn’t use autopilot in
either close formation or pursuit. He exchanged a wide-eyed stare with David Ray, who
imperceptibly shook his head. Understanding the don’t-you-dare-tell-them-about-the-AI warning
on David Ray’s face, Matt tried not to groan in wild frustration.
might be
operating
his ship, because Ari wouldn’t use autopilot in
either close formation or pursuit. He exchanged a wide-eyed stare with David Ray, who
imperceptibly shook his head. Understanding the don’t-you-dare-tell-them-about-the-AI warning
on David Ray’s face, Matt tried not to groan in wild frustration.
The next complication occurred in the form of the
Bright Crescent
. Having once spent several frustrating days on that ship, he
knew who commanded it.
Sleazy lying bastard
—
Bright Crescent
. Having once spent several frustrating days on that ship, he
knew who commanded it.
Sleazy lying bastard
—
Colonel Edones’s calm and cool voice was clear to all of them in the
room, but Matt suspected the
Bright Crescent
could hear only
Warrior Commander’s voice. His fists tightened as Edones told the Minoans that the
Candor Chasma
carried criminals who had stolen military hardware. AFCAW
Intelligence didn’t know the motives of the following ship; at this point, they gave equal
weight to the possibility that the
Aether’s Touch
was either
pursuing or escorting the criminals.
room, but Matt suspected the
Bright Crescent
could hear only
Warrior Commander’s voice. His fists tightened as Edones told the Minoans that the
Candor Chasma
carried criminals who had stolen military hardware. AFCAW
Intelligence didn’t know the motives of the following ship; at this point, they gave equal
weight to the possibility that the
Aether’s Touch
was either
pursuing or escorting the criminals.
Fuck you, Edones!
Matt’s blood pressure
spiked as he immediately focused on Edones’s insult to his ship. Then he took a deep breath and
his logic slowly returned. The whole “criminal” story was a vat of shit dropped from the Great
Bull himself; Edones was downplaying whatever was happening on those ships to ensure the
Minoans would
not
pursue them.
Matt’s blood pressure
spiked as he immediately focused on Edones’s insult to his ship. Then he took a deep breath and
his logic slowly returned. The whole “criminal” story was a vat of shit dropped from the Great
Bull himself; Edones was downplaying whatever was happening on those ships to ensure the
Minoans would
not
pursue them.
Matt paced, his fists clenched, as Warrior Commander and Edones made
plans. Another ship would be arriving, a Terran Space Force ship named the TLS
Percival
. Edones requested help clearing mines because the
Percival
had less armor and was more vulnerable. After the Minoans agreed, a
younger voice replaced Edones’s and began to coordinate the operation.
plans. Another ship would be arriving, a Terran Space Force ship named the TLS
Percival
. Edones requested help clearing mines because the
Percival
had less armor and was more vulnerable. After the Minoans agreed, a
younger voice replaced Edones’s and began to coordinate the operation.
Matt sighed and wheeled about, almost bumping into the emissary Minoan.
He started, jumping back to slide down the slimy wall and sit beside David Ray. Contractor
Adviser had quietly moved behind him and now effectively blocked both of them.
He started, jumping back to slide down the slimy wall and sit beside David Ray. Contractor
Adviser had quietly moved behind him and now effectively blocked both of them.
“You appear agitated, Owner of Aether Exploration.”
“I just wish I knew the real story,” Matt muttered.
“Are you familiar with Colonel Commanding Bright Crescent-ship?”
“Yes. I know him.” Matt didn’t need David Ray’s grip on his forearm to
remind him to choose his words carefully. In retrospect, Matt could say that Edones never
outright
lied
to him. Edones was more dangerous than that; he was a
master of camouflage and
omitting
facts.
remind him to choose his words carefully. In retrospect, Matt could say that Edones never
outright
lied
to him. Edones was more dangerous than that; he was a
master of camouflage and
omitting
facts.
“Is Colonel Commanding Bright Crescent-ship trustworthy? You appear
suspicious.”
suspicious.”
Damn, these emissary types were better at interpreting humans than he
expected. He might spout off emotionally about Edones to friends and acquaintances, but he
wasn’t going to cast aspersions on the colonel to
aliens
. Besides,
Edones worked for the Directorate of Intelligence. That made Edones, by definition, a
professional liar, although he did it in the name of the Consortium.
expected. He might spout off emotionally about Edones to friends and acquaintances, but he
wasn’t going to cast aspersions on the colonel to
aliens
. Besides,
Edones worked for the Directorate of Intelligence. That made Edones, by definition, a
professional liar, although he did it in the name of the Consortium.
“Colonel Commanding Bright Crescent-ship will perform his duty above all
else, and that includes protecting Pax Minoica,” Matt said.
else, and that includes protecting Pax Minoica,” Matt said.
That was the truth. It was also the source of Matt’s difficulty with
Edones: The colonel had been willing to even sacrifice Ari in the name of Pax Minoica. Matt’s
answer seemed to satisfy Contractor Adviser, who moved to stand near the spherical tracking
display.
Edones: The colonel had been willing to even sacrifice Ari in the name of Pax Minoica. Matt’s
answer seemed to satisfy Contractor Adviser, who moved to stand near the spherical tracking
display.
“Bright Crescent-ship has launched missiles,” Warrior Commander said.
“Percival-ship has dropped in safely and is pursuing Candor Chasma-ship.”
“Percival-ship has dropped in safely and is pursuing Candor Chasma-ship.”
“Missiles?”
Matt hung his head and pushed
his fists against his ears. This was a nightmare.
Matt hung his head and pushed
his fists against his ears. This was a nightmare.
“The missiles are probably programmed for Candor Chasma-ship,” Warrior
Commander added.
Commander added.
“Yeah, but how accurate could they be?” Matt asked the floor. He didn’t
expect an answer, but he got one.
expect an answer, but he got one.
“The most recent tracking package used on the Consortium Assassinator
Missile Two Alpha has a point-nine-eight-six-six probability of finding a programmed profile
within the range of ten thousand kilometers, provided its sensors can work optimally.” Warrior
Commander was adjusting the tracking sphere zoom. “We are moving toward Pilgrimage-ship. A
shuttle from Pilgrimage-ship appears to be dropping beacons along the orbital plane of Sophia
One.”
Missile Two Alpha has a point-nine-eight-six-six probability of finding a programmed profile
within the range of ten thousand kilometers, provided its sensors can work optimally.” Warrior
Commander was adjusting the tracking sphere zoom. “We are moving toward Pilgrimage-ship. A
shuttle from Pilgrimage-ship appears to be dropping beacons along the orbital plane of Sophia
One.”
This interested David Ray and Matt, who rose and came closer. The
Minoans stood on the other side of the three-dimensional spherical display. The light from the
display glinted off their jewels and metalwork, making their robes look diaphanous but
deepening the darkness about their faces. Warrior Commander twisted a jewel hanging from his
torque and Sophia I loomed large inside the display.
Minoans stood on the other side of the three-dimensional spherical display. The light from the
display glinted off their jewels and metalwork, making their robes look diaphanous but
deepening the darkness about their faces. Warrior Commander twisted a jewel hanging from his
torque and Sophia I loomed large inside the display.
“What are those beacons transmitting?” David Ray asked.
“Distress calls,” Warrior Commander said. “My first analysis was
incorrect. They’re not beacons, they’re—”
incorrect. They’re not beacons, they’re—”
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